Free Traffic Legal Advice

Does it seem fine for me to send through? Should I add anything about their confusing autopay system as they seem to have 2.

Dear all,

In my rush we made a mistake and appealed through the website before reading the forum template which would've resulted in a quick cancellation. Instead we decided to be truthful and tell them there was an autopay error. The driver was not named as appeal was strictly done as registered keeper. They issued rejection email with POPLA code. I tried sending the template as response to the rejection but sadly they have said its the end of internal and I should proceed with POPLA.

I would rather send an appeal through POPLA and get it over with because I know they will continue badgering with useless debt letter. Would rather not drag it out but fully ready to get to court stage.

Is there a template for POPLA for airport "not relevant land" point that anyone can direct me to please.

Thanks in advance.

Hi all,
Looking for some advice please.
I popped out for a quick bite from a shop on Silver Street and parked on Warwick Road. I drove from N13 (Hedge Lane), took the Cambridge roundabout, and exited onto Silver Street via the A406 slip road. At no point did I see any Event Day date signage.
I was aware there was no Spurs match on, and given how quiet the area was (especially after the recent Beyoncé concerts), I assumed there was no event. I was literally in the shop for about 15 minutes, came out, and found a PCN on my windscreen. Apparently, there is a Chris Brown event tonight!
Now I’ve been hit with an £80 fine — quite steep for a doner 😅
I’m confused about where we’re supposed to see Event Day notifications for this area. I remember seeing signs further up near the stadium on the High Road, but if you're a local who doesn't regularly pass through those roads, how are we meant to know when these restrictions apply?
Also, would the following draft be OK to send for an informal challenge?
Would appreciate any advice or improvements — or if anyone else has had success appealing similar PCNs!
Thanks


Dear Sirs,
Re: Windscreen [PCN Number] dated [DD/MM/YYYY] – Alleged Contravention on [DD/MM/YYYY] at Warwick Road, N18
I write to formally challenge the above Penalty Charge Notice, which alleges a parking contravention under Code 16 – "Parked in a permit space or zone without clearly displaying a valid permit."
I deny liability for this PCN on the grounds that the contravention did not occur due to inadequate and unclear signage relating to Event Day restrictions. I drove from my home (N13) to Warwick Road for a short visit to nearby Silver Street. At no point during the journey or upon arrival did I observe any clear signage indicating that an Event Day restriction was in force.
Further, there was no Tottenham Hotspur match or event taking place that day to reasonably alert motorists to the activation of such restrictions. I did not have access to the internet at the time of parking and, in the absence of visible signage, had no way of knowing that any event applied.
The signage currently in place does not comply with the required standards to adequately inform drivers of temporary or event-related restrictions. This lack of clear and visible notice renders enforcement unfair and non-compliant with the council’s statutory obligations.
I therefore respectfully request that the PCN be cancelled, and that the council reviews and improves the clarity and positioning of Event Day signage before further enforcement is pursued in this area.
Yours faithfully,





Windscreen PCN : https://ibb.co/kgB3Zxpn

Quote from: Fazzy on May 09, 2025, 03:26:56 pm

I just went by others post from around that time and hoped for the best...

Hmmm... At a quick glance appears to be PoFA compliant.

The appeal noted something about blue badge - did the terms of parking allow additional time for those with protected characteristics?

Indeed, do you have pictures of the signs - they seem to suggest the £70 'debt charge' was displayed?

I'm afraid not. The homebase shut down a good few years ago. This is the only picture I can find on google maps from 2016 here

https://ibb.co/zhS0vNS5

Hi all,

I'm helping a nervous friend out and wanted to see if I've advised correctly.

Car parked in Homebase on 11th September 2019. The keeper/and driver didn't appeal the initial PCNs and forgot about it till recent DCBL letters in November 2024. We played the ignore game to keep the time ticking.


Letter of Claim dated 20th March received.

The following appeal sent on 17th April.

Dear Sirs,

Your Ref. ############
Proposed Legal Proceedings
Claimant: DCB Legal Ltd


I acknowledge receipt of your Letter Before Claim.

The alleged debt is disputed, and I will vigorously defend any court proceedings should they be initiated.

The alleged incident in question dates back to 2019 at a Homebase car park that has since closed. I was not the driver at the time, and your client cannot hold me liable as the Notice to Keeper issued failed to comply with the requirements of the Protection of Freedoms Act (POFA) 2012. Furthermore, the driver was acting as a carer for a Blue Badge holder who was undergoing cancer treatment in 2019, and the Blue Badge was correctly displayed at the time. (All pictures of blue badge with dates attached)

I am currently seeking independent debt advice and, in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (2017), I formally request that this matter be placed on hold for an additional 30 days.

Additionally, I note that the amount claimed has been significantly inflated. The Government has previously referred to such practices as "extorting money from motorists." Under the PAP, I request clarification on the following points:

Does the additional £70 charge represent a ‘Debt Recovery’ fee? If so, is this amount net or inclusive of VAT? If VAT is included, please explain why I am being asked to pay the operator’s VAT.

Regarding the principal sum of the alleged Parking Charge Notice (PCN): Is your client claiming this amount as damages, or will it be pleaded as consideration for parking?

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,


Response from DCBL dated 8th May

We write in response to your correspondence received in our office dated 17/04/2025.

We now respond to the same as follows.

The parking charge has been issued due to exceeding the maximum duration of stay permitted at the site. The signs on site would have clearly outlined the terms and conditions of the site.

When parking on private land, the contractual terms of the site are set out on the signs. You are entering a contract and agreeing to the terms by parking and staying on the site. Parking in breach of the terms as stipulated on the signage means that you are then breaking the terms of the contract.

Schedule 4 (4)(1) of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (“the Act”) states “The creditor has the right to recover any unpaid parking charges from the keeper of the vehicle”. For the purpose of the Act; “keeper” means the person by whom the vehicle is kept at the time the vehicle was parked, which in the case of a registered vehicle is to be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the registered keeper. The DVLA confirmed that you were the Registered Keeper at the time the parking charge was issued and as no transfer of liability has been received by our Client, they have the right to recover the parking charge from you as the Keeper of the vehicle.


The Parking Charge letter was issued to you on 18/09/2019. A copy is attached. You were afforded the opportunity to; appeal the parking charge, transfer liability to the driver (if it was not you) or make payment. Neither a successful appeal, nor an adequate nomination were received, yet payment remains outstanding.

The amount owed is a genuine pre-estimate of the losses incurred in managing the parking location to ensure compliance with the clearly displayed terms and conditions. However, in Parking Eye Ltd v Beavis, it was found, both at County Court and Court of Appeal level, that appealing a Parking Charge on the basis that the amount is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss is, in fact, not a successful legal defence.

The sum added is a contribution to the actual costs incurred by our Client as a result of your non-payment. Our Client’s employees have spent time and material attempting to recover the debt. This is not our Client’s usual business and the resources could have been better spent in other areas of the business. Had you of paid as per the Contract, there would have been no need for recovery action so the amount due would not have increased. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding balance consists of £100.00 for the breach in contract as per the signage displayed on site, and £70.00 debt recovery fee.


The HMRC ‘VAT Supply and Consideration manual’ (VATSC06140), confirmed that parking charge falls out of the scope of VAT.


WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

I can confirm our Client would be agreeable to £70.00 in full and final settlement of this Claim. The current outstanding balance is £170.00.


You now have 30 days from the date of this email to make payment of £70.00. Failure to make payment may result in a Claim being issued against you without further reference. 

　　　

Payment can be made via our website www.dcblegal.co.uk, by calling our office on 0203 838 7038 or via bank transfer:　

　　　

DCB Legal Ltd Client Account　　

Sort Code: 20-24-09　　

Account no: 60964441　　

　　　

When making payment please ensure you include the following reference number, 121960.11645D, to enable us to allocate it to the correct case.


Kind Regards,

Naieeda Haque
Administration Associate
DCB Legal Ltd
Tel: 0203 434 0433 | DX 23457 Runcorn


30 days from their letter brings us to 7th of June 2025. We will have a further 3 months till we are timed out. What else can we keep doing or should we expect the court letter and get ready to defend?

Thanks

Hi all,

I need advice again. we have this bus route next to our home. Its a route we take minimum 4 times back and forth doing the school runs every day and avoid using bus lane or getting a ticket. On this occasion, 12 year old was dying to pee, so my husband overtook right at the end of the bus lane to get into the left lane to exit the roundabout. Is there any chance of appeal with these grounds? I received a ticket for my car on this spot when they first introduced this camera a good few years ago and I appealed by sending in the bus lane camera template that was provided on pepipoo and the PCN was cancelled but things have changed I'm sure since that.

Please kindly advice.

Full PCN here: https://ibb.co/84gD2V8w

The Video received from TFL here on 13/2/25: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/624oltzz0zy5t562tt0az/3446239.mkv?rlkey=nt189xclyu2xsmnqccy6yb1ve&st=k7qeb4o8&dl=0

Thank you.


From TfL site (Called twice to chase the video):

28 January 2025On Hold: SUS20 - Enquiry Received
N/A

24 October 2024On Hold: SUS20 - Enquiry Received
N/A

15 October 2024PCN Batched
N/A

@Hippocrates The case was on hold while they sent the CD. I've just received and uploaded the video here : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s5nd5khjr36tgvdiemolq/3260188.mkv?rlkey=0uuuy90v8yfit6zt98n18iuph&st=5y0q7pz5&dl=0

Please kindly have a look at the video. Please let me know if I still go ahead with the below template as initial challenge or add/change anything?

Dear TFL

Ref:  PCN
      VRM

I make this initial challenge as follows:

The PCN is unenforceable because:

1. The reference to The Interpretation Act is both irrelevant and confusing as the legislation pertaining to Bus Lane enforcement refers to actions which may be taken by the authority and/or appellant from the date of the notice.

2. The statement: "Any written correspondence before the issue of the Enforcement Notice will not be treated as a formal representation." fetters discretion and is contrary to the legislation in that it clearly implies that you will send an Enforcement Notice when the legislation states "may" at 4(3)(e)

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1996/9/section/4/enacted

3. The statement: "It will not entitle you to the right of appeal." is both absurd and flies in the face of the law and natural justice. Further, the next statement about consideration seems to contradict what has been previously stated.

4. The statement: "Failure to respond or contact us within 28 days of the service date of this notice will result in the Enforcement Notice automatically being sent to you after this period." similarly fetters discretion and also misstates the time period.

Request for the video

I ask for a copy asap please.

The alleged contravention did not occur

The embedded photograph on the PCN  lacks any proof of relevant signage either passed or in situ.

Camera authorisation


I put you to strict proof that the camera used to capture the alleged contravention has the correct certification. If this is not forthcoming, this will be another ground of appeal.

In light of the above, please cancel the PCN,

Name

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